US10355443B2 - Illumination device and projector - Google Patents

Illumination device and projector Download PDF

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US10355443B2
US10355443B2 US15/832,433 US201715832433A US10355443B2 US 10355443 B2 US10355443 B2 US 10355443B2 US 201715832433 A US201715832433 A US 201715832433A US 10355443 B2 US10355443 B2 US 10355443B2
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light
lens
lenses
illumination device
optical system
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US20180166849A1 (en
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Akira Egawa
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Seiko Epson Corp
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Seiko Epson Corp
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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03B—APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OR FOR PROJECTING OR VIEWING THEM; APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS EMPLOYING ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR
    • G03B21/00—Projectors or projection-type viewers; Accessories therefor
    • G03B21/14—Details
    • G03B21/20—Lamp housings
    • G03B21/2006—Lamp housings characterised by the light source
    • G03B21/2033—LED or laser light sources
    • G03B21/204—LED or laser light sources using secondary light emission, e.g. luminescence or fluorescence
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01S—DEVICES USING THE PROCESS OF LIGHT AMPLIFICATION BY STIMULATED EMISSION OF RADIATION [LASER] TO AMPLIFY OR GENERATE LIGHT; DEVICES USING STIMULATED EMISSION OF ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION IN WAVE RANGES OTHER THAN OPTICAL
    • H01S5/00—Semiconductor lasers
    • H01S5/02—Structural details or components not essential to laser action
    • H01S5/024—Arrangements for thermal management
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B27/00—Optical systems or apparatus not provided for by any of the groups G02B1/00 - G02B26/00, G02B30/00
    • G02B27/18—Optical systems or apparatus not provided for by any of the groups G02B1/00 - G02B26/00, G02B30/00 for optical projection, e.g. combination of mirror and condenser and objective
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B3/00—Simple or compound lenses
    • G02B3/0006—Arrays
    • G02B3/0037—Arrays characterized by the distribution or form of lenses
    • G02B3/0062—Stacked lens arrays, i.e. refractive surfaces arranged in at least two planes, without structurally separate optical elements in-between
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03B—APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OR FOR PROJECTING OR VIEWING THEM; APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS EMPLOYING ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR
    • G03B21/00—Projectors or projection-type viewers; Accessories therefor
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03B—APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OR FOR PROJECTING OR VIEWING THEM; APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS EMPLOYING ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR
    • G03B21/00—Projectors or projection-type viewers; Accessories therefor
    • G03B21/14—Details
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03B—APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OR FOR PROJECTING OR VIEWING THEM; APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS EMPLOYING ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR
    • G03B21/00—Projectors or projection-type viewers; Accessories therefor
    • G03B21/14—Details
    • G03B21/20—Lamp housings
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03B—APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OR FOR PROJECTING OR VIEWING THEM; APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS EMPLOYING ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR
    • G03B21/00—Projectors or projection-type viewers; Accessories therefor
    • G03B21/14—Details
    • G03B21/20—Lamp housings
    • G03B21/2006—Lamp housings characterised by the light source
    • G03B21/2013—Plural light sources
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03B—APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OR FOR PROJECTING OR VIEWING THEM; APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS EMPLOYING ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR
    • G03B21/00—Projectors or projection-type viewers; Accessories therefor
    • G03B21/14—Details
    • G03B21/20—Lamp housings
    • G03B21/2046—Positional adjustment of light sources
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03B—APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OR FOR PROJECTING OR VIEWING THEM; APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS EMPLOYING ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR
    • G03B21/00—Projectors or projection-type viewers; Accessories therefor
    • G03B21/14—Details
    • G03B21/20—Lamp housings
    • G03B21/208—Homogenising, shaping of the illumination light
    • H01S5/02252—
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01S—DEVICES USING THE PROCESS OF LIGHT AMPLIFICATION BY STIMULATED EMISSION OF RADIATION [LASER] TO AMPLIFY OR GENERATE LIGHT; DEVICES USING STIMULATED EMISSION OF ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION IN WAVE RANGES OTHER THAN OPTICAL
    • H01S5/00—Semiconductor lasers
    • H01S5/02—Structural details or components not essential to laser action
    • H01S5/022—Mountings; Housings
    • H01S5/023—Mount members, e.g. sub-mount members
    • H01S5/02325—Mechanically integrated components on mount members or optical micro-benches
    • H01S5/02326—Arrangements for relative positioning of laser diodes and optical components, e.g. grooves in the mount to fix optical fibres or lenses
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01S—DEVICES USING THE PROCESS OF LIGHT AMPLIFICATION BY STIMULATED EMISSION OF RADIATION [LASER] TO AMPLIFY OR GENERATE LIGHT; DEVICES USING STIMULATED EMISSION OF ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION IN WAVE RANGES OTHER THAN OPTICAL
    • H01S5/00—Semiconductor lasers
    • H01S5/10—Construction or shape of the optical resonator, e.g. extended or external cavity, coupled cavities, bent-guide, varying width, thickness or composition of the active region
    • H01S5/18—Surface-emitting [SE] lasers, e.g. having both horizontal and vertical cavities
    • H01S5/183—Surface-emitting [SE] lasers, e.g. having both horizontal and vertical cavities having only vertical cavities, e.g. vertical cavity surface-emitting lasers [VCSEL]
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01S—DEVICES USING THE PROCESS OF LIGHT AMPLIFICATION BY STIMULATED EMISSION OF RADIATION [LASER] TO AMPLIFY OR GENERATE LIGHT; DEVICES USING STIMULATED EMISSION OF ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION IN WAVE RANGES OTHER THAN OPTICAL
    • H01S5/00—Semiconductor lasers
    • H01S5/20—Structure or shape of the semiconductor body to guide the optical wave ; Confining structures perpendicular to the optical axis, e.g. index or gain guiding, stripe geometry, broad area lasers, gain tailoring, transverse or lateral reflectors, special cladding structures, MQW barrier reflection layers
    • H01S5/2004—Confining in the direction perpendicular to the layer structure
    • H01S5/2018—Optical confinement, e.g. absorbing-, reflecting- or waveguide-layers
    • H01S5/2031—Optical confinement, e.g. absorbing-, reflecting- or waveguide-layers characterized by special waveguide layers, e.g. asymmetric waveguide layers or defined bandgap discontinuities
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01S—DEVICES USING THE PROCESS OF LIGHT AMPLIFICATION BY STIMULATED EMISSION OF RADIATION [LASER] TO AMPLIFY OR GENERATE LIGHT; DEVICES USING STIMULATED EMISSION OF ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION IN WAVE RANGES OTHER THAN OPTICAL
    • H01S5/00—Semiconductor lasers
    • H01S5/40—Arrangement of two or more semiconductor lasers, not provided for in groups H01S5/02 - H01S5/30
    • H01S5/4025—Array arrangements, e.g. constituted by discrete laser diodes or laser bar
    • H01S5/4087—Array arrangements, e.g. constituted by discrete laser diodes or laser bar emitting more than one wavelength
    • H01S5/4093—Red, green and blue [RGB] generated directly by laser action or by a combination of laser action with nonlinear frequency conversion
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N5/00—Details of television systems
    • H04N5/74—Projection arrangements for image reproduction, e.g. using eidophor
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N9/00—Details of colour television systems
    • H04N9/12—Picture reproducers
    • H04N9/31—Projection devices for colour picture display, e.g. using electronic spatial light modulators [ESLM]
    • H04N9/3141—Constructional details thereof
    • H04N9/315—Modulator illumination systems
    • H04N9/3152—Modulator illumination systems for shaping the light beam
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N9/00—Details of colour television systems
    • H04N9/12—Picture reproducers
    • H04N9/31—Projection devices for colour picture display, e.g. using electronic spatial light modulators [ESLM]
    • H04N9/3141—Constructional details thereof
    • H04N9/315—Modulator illumination systems
    • H04N9/3161—Modulator illumination systems using laser light sources
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N9/00—Details of colour television systems
    • H04N9/12—Picture reproducers
    • H04N9/31—Projection devices for colour picture display, e.g. using electronic spatial light modulators [ESLM]
    • H04N9/3141—Constructional details thereof
    • H04N9/315—Modulator illumination systems
    • H04N9/3164—Modulator illumination systems using multiple light sources
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B27/00—Optical systems or apparatus not provided for by any of the groups G02B1/00 - G02B26/00, G02B30/00
    • G02B27/10—Beam splitting or combining systems
    • G02B27/1066—Beam splitting or combining systems for enhancing image performance, like resolution, pixel numbers, dual magnifications or dynamic range, by tiling, slicing or overlapping fields of view
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B27/00—Optical systems or apparatus not provided for by any of the groups G02B1/00 - G02B26/00, G02B30/00
    • G02B27/10—Beam splitting or combining systems
    • G02B27/14—Beam splitting or combining systems operating by reflection only
    • G02B27/141—Beam splitting or combining systems operating by reflection only using dichroic mirrors
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B27/00—Optical systems or apparatus not provided for by any of the groups G02B1/00 - G02B26/00, G02B30/00
    • G02B27/10—Beam splitting or combining systems
    • G02B27/14—Beam splitting or combining systems operating by reflection only
    • G02B27/149—Beam splitting or combining systems operating by reflection only using crossed beamsplitting surfaces, e.g. cross-dichroic cubes or X-cubes
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B27/00—Optical systems or apparatus not provided for by any of the groups G02B1/00 - G02B26/00, G02B30/00
    • G02B27/28—Optical systems or apparatus not provided for by any of the groups G02B1/00 - G02B26/00, G02B30/00 for polarising
    • G02B27/286—Optical systems or apparatus not provided for by any of the groups G02B1/00 - G02B26/00, G02B30/00 for polarising for controlling or changing the state of polarisation, e.g. transforming one polarisation state into another
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B3/00—Simple or compound lenses
    • G02B3/0006—Arrays
    • G02B3/0037—Arrays characterized by the distribution or form of lenses
    • G02B3/0056—Arrays characterized by the distribution or form of lenses arranged along two different directions in a plane, e.g. honeycomb arrangement of lenses

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an illumination device and a projector.
  • an illumination device using a light-emitting element such as a semiconductor laser from which high-luminance, high-output light is obtained, has attracted attention as an illumination device used for a projector.
  • a predetermined region of a phosphor layer is uniformly illuminated by light from a plurality of light-emitting elements with the use of a pair of multi-lens arrays (e.g., see JP-A-2014-138148).
  • each of a plurality of beams emitted from the multi-lens array in the front stage has to be incident on the corresponding lens of the multi-lens array in the rear stage.
  • some deviation unavoidably occurs in the alignment of an optical system or light-emitting element that is located in the front stage of the front-stage multi-lens array.
  • the “mounting error” herein includes a deviation in alignment due to tolerances of an optical system such as the front-stage multi-lens array or the light-emitting element.
  • the beam emitted from the front-stage multi-lens array cannot be incident on the corresponding lens of the rear-stage multi-lens array.
  • the beam is emitted onto a region other than the predetermined region, resulting in the problem of a reduction in light-use efficiency.
  • a first aspect of the invention provides an illumination device including: a plurality of light-emitting elements; a collimating optical system on which light emitted from the plurality of light-emitting elements is incident; a first multi-lens array on which light emitted from the collimating optical system is incident and which includes a plurality of first lenses; a second multi-lens array on which light emitted from the first multi-lens array is incident and which includes a plurality of second lenses; and a superimposing lens on which light emitted from the second multi-lens array is incident, wherein the plurality of second lenses are arranged respectively corresponding to the plurality of first lenses, the plurality of first lenses form a plurality of first lens columns, a width, in a first direction, of one second lens of the plurality of second lenses has a distribution in a second direction, where the first direction is a direction in which the plurality of first lens columns are arranged and the second direction is a direction orthogonal to the first direction, and
  • the maximum value of the width of the second lens in the first direction is larger than the width of the first lens in the first direction.
  • a secondary light source image formed on the one second lens has a longitudinal direction, and that the longitudinal direction is parallel to the first direction.
  • the secondary light source image When the secondary light source image deviates in the longitudinal direction, the secondary light source image is likely to protrude from the second lens. However, according to the configuration, even if the secondary light source image deviates in the longitudinal direction, the secondary light source image is less likely to protrude from the second lens.
  • each of the plurality of second lenses has a hexagonal planar shape.
  • the second lenses are closely packed.
  • the illumination device further includes a wavelength conversion element on which light emitted from the superimposing lens is incident.
  • illumination light including light generated by the wavelength conversion element can be generated.
  • a second aspect of the invention provides a projector including: the illumination device according to the first aspect; a wavelength conversion element on which light emitted from the illumination device is incident; a light modulator that modulates light emitted from the wavelength conversion element in response to image information to form image light; and a projection optical system that projects the image light.
  • the illumination device since the illumination device is included, light-use efficiency is high.
  • a third aspect of the invention provides a projector including: the illumination device according to the first aspect; a light modulator that modulates light emitted from the illumination device in response to image information to thereby form image light; and a projection optical system that projects the image light.
  • the illumination device since the illumination device is included, light-use efficiency is high.
  • FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a projector of a first embodiment.
  • FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a schematic configuration of an illumination device.
  • FIG. 3 is a diagram of a light emission region of a semiconductor laser as viewed in a plan view.
  • FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a main part configuration of an illumination device according to a comparative example.
  • FIG. 5A is a plan view of a first multi-lens array according to the comparative example as viewed in the +X-direction.
  • FIG. 5B is a plan view of a second multi-lens array according to the comparative example as viewed in the +X-direction.
  • FIG. 6A is a plan view of a first multi-lens array according to the first embodiment as viewed in the +X-direction.
  • FIG. 6B is a plan view of a second multi-lens array according to the first embodiment as viewed in the +X-direction.
  • FIG. 7 is a diagram of first and second lenses as viewed in a direction parallel to an optical axis.
  • FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the configuration of a homogenizer optical system according to a first modified example.
  • FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a secondary light source image formed on a second lens in a second modified example.
  • FIG. 10 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a projector of a second embodiment.
  • FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an illumination device for blue light.
  • FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a second lens according to a modified example.
  • FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of the projector 1 of the embodiment.
  • the projector 1 includes an illumination device 100 , a color separation/light guiding system 200 , light modulators 400 R, 400 G, and 400 B, a cross dichroic prism 500 , and a projection optical system 600 .
  • the illumination device 100 emits white light WL including red light (R), green light (G), and blue light (B).
  • the color separation/light guiding system 200 includes dichroic mirrors 210 and 220 , reflection mirrors 230 , 240 , and 250 , and relay lenses 260 and 270 .
  • the color separation/light guiding system 200 separates the white light WL from the illumination device 100 into red light LR, green light LG, and blue light LB, and directs the red light LR, the green light LG, and the blue light LB to the light modulators 400 R, 400 G, and 400 B respectively corresponding thereto.
  • Field lenses 300 R, 300 G, and 300 B are disposed between the color separation/light guiding system 200 and the light modulators 400 R, 400 G, and 400 B.
  • the dichroic mirror 210 is a dichroic mirror that transmits a red light component and reflects a green light component and a blue light component.
  • the dichroic mirror 220 is a dichroic mirror that reflects the green light component and transmits the blue light component.
  • the reflection mirror 230 is a reflection mirror that reflects the red light component.
  • the reflection mirrors 240 and 250 are reflection mirrors that reflect the blue light component.
  • Each of the light modulators 400 R, 400 G, and 400 B includes a liquid crystal panel that modulates incident color light in response to image information to form image light.
  • the operating mode of the liquid crystal panel may be the TN mode, the VA mode, the transverse electric-field mode, or the like, and is not particularly limited.
  • a light incident-side polarizer is disposed between each of the field lenses 300 R, 300 G, and 300 B and each of the light modulators 400 R, 400 G, and 400 B while a light exiting-side polarizer is disposed between each of the light modulators 400 R, 400 G, and 400 B and the cross dichroic prism 500 .
  • the cross dichroic prism 500 combines the image lights emitted from the light modulators 400 R, 400 G, and 400 B to form a color image.
  • the cross dichroic prism 500 has a substantially square shape, in a plan view, formed of four right-angle prisms bonded together, and dielectric multilayer films are formed at interfaces having a substantially X-shape between the right-angle prisms bonded together.
  • the color image emitted from the cross dichroic prism 500 is enlarged and projected by the projection optical system 600 , and the image is formed on a screen SCR.
  • FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a schematic configuration of the illumination device 100 .
  • Each configuration of the illumination device 100 will be described using the X-Y-Z coordinate system in the drawings shown below.
  • the X-direction is a direction parallel to an optical axis ax 1 ;
  • the Y-direction is a direction parallel to an optical axis ax 2 orthogonal to the optical axis ax 1 ;
  • the Z-direction is a direction orthogonal to the X-direction and the Y-direction.
  • the illumination device 100 includes an array light source 21 including a plurality of semiconductor lasers 211 , a collimator optical system 22 , an afocal optical system 23 , a first retardation film 15 , a homogenizer optical system 24 , an optical element 25 A including a polarization separation element 50 A, a first condensing optical system 26 , a fluorescent light-emitting element 27 , a second retardation film 28 , a second condensing optical system 29 , a diffuse reflection element 30 , and a uniform illumination system 40 .
  • an array light source 21 including a plurality of semiconductor lasers 211 , a collimator optical system 22 , an afocal optical system 23 , a first retardation film 15 , a homogenizer optical system 24 , an optical element 25 A including a polarization separation element 50 A, a first condensing optical system 26 , a fluorescent light-emitting element 27 , a second retardation film 28 , a second con
  • the plurality of semiconductor lasers 211 correspond to “plurality of light-emitting elements” in the appended claims.
  • the array light source 21 , the collimator optical system 22 , the afocal optical system 23 , the first retardation film 15 , the homogenizer optical system 24 , the optical element 25 A, the second retardation film 28 , the second condensing optical system 29 , and the diffuse reflection element 30 are sequentially arranged on the optical axis ax 1 .
  • the fluorescent light-emitting element 27 , the first condensing optical system 26 , and the optical element 25 A are sequentially arranged on the optical axis ax 2 .
  • the optical axis ax 1 and the optical axis ax 2 are in a positional relationship in which the optical axis ax 1 and the optical axis ax 2 lie in the same plane and are orthogonal to each other.
  • the array light source 21 includes the plurality of semiconductor lasers 211 .
  • the plurality of semiconductor lasers 211 are arranged in an array in the same plane orthogonal to the optical axis ax 1 .
  • the semiconductor laser 211 emits, for example, a beam BL composed of blue laser light having a peak wavelength of 460 nm.
  • the array light source 21 emits a bundle of beams K 1 composed of a plurality of beams BL.
  • FIG. 3 is a diagram of a light emission region of the semiconductor laser 211 as viewed in a plan view.
  • the light emission region 211 A of the semiconductor laser 211 has, for example, a substantially rectangular planar shape having a longitudinal direction and a transverse direction.
  • the longitudinal direction of the light emission region 211 A corresponds to a direction along the optical axis ax 2 (the Y-direction) shown in FIG. 2 .
  • the transverse direction of the light emission region 211 A corresponds to a direction along the Z-direction.
  • the bundle of beams K 1 emitted from the array light source 21 is incident on the collimator optical system 22 .
  • the collimator optical system 22 converts the beams BL emitted from the array light source 21 to a parallel light bundle.
  • the collimator optical system 22 is configured of, for example, a plurality of collimator lenses 22 a arranged in an array.
  • the plurality of collimator lenses 22 a are disposed respectively corresponding to the plurality of semiconductor lasers 211 .
  • the bundle of beams K 1 passing through the collimator optical system. 22 is incident on the afocal optical system 23 .
  • the afocal optical system. 23 adjusts the light bundle diameter of the bundle of beams K 1 .
  • the afocal optical system 23 is configured of, for example, a convex lens 23 a and a concave lens 23 b.
  • the bundle of beams K 1 passing through the afocal optical system 23 is incident on the first retardation film 15 .
  • the first retardation film 15 is, for example, a 1 ⁇ 2 wave plate that is rotatable.
  • the beam BL emitted from the semiconductor laser 211 is linearly polarized light.
  • the beam BL passing through the first retardation film 15 can be converted into light (the bundle of beams K 1 ) including a beam BLs of an S-polarization component and a beam BLp of a P-polarization component with respect to the polarization separation element 50 A at a predetermined ratio.
  • the bundle of beams K 1 including the beam BLs and the beam BLp is incident on the homogenizer optical system 24 .
  • the homogenizer optical system 24 makes an illuminance distribution by the beam BLs uniform on a phosphor layer 34 in cooperation with the first condensing optical system 26 .
  • the homogenizer optical system 24 makes an illuminance distribution by a beam BLc′, to be described later, uniform on a diffuse reflector 30 A in cooperation with the second condensing optical system 29 .
  • the phosphor layer 34 corresponds to “wavelength conversion element” in the appended claims.
  • the homogenizer optical system 24 is configured of, for example, a first multi-lens array 24 a and a second multi-lens array 24 b .
  • the first multi-lens array 24 a includes a plurality of first lenses 24 am .
  • the second multi-lens array 24 b includes a plurality of second lenses 24 bm .
  • the plurality of second lenses 24 bm correspond respectively to the plurality of first lenses 24 am.
  • the fluorescent light-emitting element 27 and the diffuse reflection element 30 are disposed respectively at positions optically conjugate with the first multi-lens array 24 a (the first lens 24 am ).
  • the light emission region 211 A of the semiconductor laser 211 is disposed at a position optically conjugate with the second multi-lens array 24 b.
  • the illumination device 100 has some mounting error in the embodiment.
  • the “mounting error” herein includes a deviation in alignment due to tolerances of an optical system such as the front-stage multi-lens array or a light-emitting element.
  • FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a main part configuration of an illumination device 100 A according to the comparative example.
  • the illumination device 100 A in FIG. 4 has the same configuration as the illumination device 100 of the embodiment, except that the homogenizer optical system 24 is replaced with a homogenizer optical system 124 .
  • the homogenizer optical system 124 In FIG. 4 , only the homogenizer optical system 124 , the array light source 21 , and the collimator lenses 22 a are shown.
  • the homogenizer optical system 124 includes a first multi-lens array 124 a including a plurality of first lenses 124 am , and a second multi-lens array 124 b including a plurality of second lenses 124 bm.
  • the uniformity of the illuminance distribution by the beam BLs on the phosphor layer 34 is reduced. This is because the position of a secondary light source image G formed on the second lens 124 bm by the beam BL emitted from the light emission region 211 A deviates from a predetermined position in the second lens 124 bm as will be described later.
  • planar shape of the light emission region 211 A is the shape (e.g., an oblong) having a longitudinal direction in the Y-direction as described above
  • planar shape of the secondary light source image G formed on the second lens 124 bm having the optically conjugate relationship with the light emission region 211 A is a shape (an oblong) having a longitudinal direction in the Y-direction.
  • the movement of the secondary light source image on the second lens 124 bm due to the mounting error may occur in any direction.
  • FIG. 5A is a plan view of the first multi-lens array 124 a as viewed in the +X-direction.
  • FIG. 5B is a plan view of the second multi-lens array 124 b as viewed in the +X-direction.
  • the size of the first lens 124 am is the same as the size of the second lens 124 bm in the homogenizer optical system 124 .
  • the planar shape of the first lens 124 am and the planar shape of the second lens 124 bm are both a square whose one side is parallel to the Y-direction.
  • the secondary light source image G deviates from the predetermined position.
  • the second lens 124 bm on which the secondary light source image G is to be formed is referred to as a “second lens 124 bmm ”.
  • the secondary light source image G is more likely to protrude from the second lens 124 bmm in the case where the secondary light source image G deviates in the longitudinal direction (the Y-direction) of the light emission region 211 A than in the case where the secondary light source image G deviates in the Z-direction. Since light from a portion of the secondary light source image G that protrudes from the second lens 124 bmm is not incident on a predetermined region to be illuminated, light-use efficiency is reduced.
  • the illumination device 100 of the embodiment includes the homogenizer optical system 24 including the first multi-lens array 24 a and the second multi-lens array 24 b having features in arrangement and shape.
  • FIG. 6A is a plan view of the first multi-lens array 24 a as viewed in the +X-direction.
  • FIG. 6B is a plan view of the second multi-lens array 24 b as viewed in the +X-direction.
  • the first multi-lens array 24 a includes the plurality of first lenses 24 am ;
  • the second multi-lens array 24 b includes the plurality of second lenses 24 bm ; and the plurality of second lenses 24 bm correspond respectively to the plurality of first lenses 24 am.
  • the planar shape of the second lens 24 bm is different from the planar shape (a substantially square shape) of the first lens 24 am.
  • the plurality of first lenses 24 am are disposed so as to forma plurality of first lens columns LL 1 in the first multi-lens array 24 a .
  • the first multi-lens array 24 a includes four first lens columns LL 1 .
  • the four first lens columns LL 1 are arranged along the Y-direction.
  • Each of the first lens columns LL 1 includes four first lenses 24 am .
  • the positions of the first lens columns LL 1 adjacent to each other are different from each other in the Z-direction.
  • the first multi-lens array 24 a has a structure in which a total of 16 first lenses 24 am are disposed in a staggered manner.
  • the planar shape of the plurality of first lenses 24 am is a square whose one side is parallel to the Y-direction.
  • the number of the first lenses 24 am that constitute each of the first lens columns LL 1 and the number of columns of the first lens column LL 1 are not limited to those of the configuration described above.
  • first direction the Y-direction in which the plurality of first lens columns LL 1 are arranged
  • second direction the Z-direction orthogonal to the first direction
  • the second multi-lens array 24 b has a structure in which a total of 16 second lenses 24 bm are disposed in a staggered manner similarly to the first multi-lens array 24 a .
  • a width H 2 in the first direction (the Y-direction) has a distribution in the second direction (the Z-direction).
  • a width H 1 of a first lens 24 am 1 in the first direction (the Y-direction) is constant.
  • the width means a width in the first direction.
  • the maximum value of the width H 2 of the second lens 24 bm is defined as a maximum width H 2 max
  • the minimum value is defined as a minimum width H 2 min .
  • the planar shape of the plurality of second lenses 24 bm is a hexagon.
  • the planar shape of the second lens 24 bm hexagonal in the second multi-lens array 24 b as described above the second lenses 24 bm are closely packed.
  • one second lens of the plurality of second lenses 24 bm is defined as a second lens 24 bm 1 .
  • One first lens of the plurality of first lenses 24 am that corresponds to the second lens 24 bm 1 is defined as the first lens 24 am 1 .
  • the first lens 24 am 1 corresponds to “one first lens of the plurality of first lenses that corresponds to the one second lens” in the appended claims.
  • the second lens 24 bm 1 corresponds to “one second lens of the plurality of second lenses” in the appended claims.
  • FIG. 7 is a diagram of the first lens 24 am 1 and the second lens 24 bm 1 as viewed in a direction parallel to the optical axis ax 1 .
  • the first lens 24 am 1 is shown by the broken line.
  • the optical axis of the first lens 24 am 1 is coincident with an optical axis OA of the second lens 24 bm 1 .
  • the maximum width H 2 max of the second lens 24 bm 1 is larger than the width H 1 of the first lens 24 am 1 .
  • the maximum width H 2 max is located in the central portion in the second direction (the Z-direction).
  • the width H 1 equals (H 2 max +H 2 min )/2.
  • the homogenizer optical system 24 is designed such that if there is no mounting error, the secondary light source image G is formed centered around the optical axis of the second lens 24 bm 1 .
  • the longitudinal direction (the Y-direction) of the light emission region 211 A is coincident with the first direction (the Y-direction) in which the second lens 24 bm 1 has the maximum width H 2 max . That is, the longitudinal direction of the secondary light source image G formed on the second lens 24 bm 1 substantially coincides with the first direction.
  • the maximum width H 2 max of the second lens 24 bm 1 is larger than the width H 1 of the first lens 24 am 1 .
  • the plurality of second lenses 24 bm are closely packed because the planar shape of the second lens 24 bm is a hexagon.
  • the secondary light source image G is less likely to protrude from the second lens 24 bm .
  • the light from the array light source 21 can be efficiently used.
  • the mounting accuracy is not required to be as high as before, the manufacture of the illumination device 100 is facilitated and thus cost reduction can be achieved.
  • the lights emitted from the second lenses 24 bm are parallel to each other, and therefore favorably condensed onto the fluorescent light-emitting element 27 or the diffuse reflection element 30 via the first condensing optical system 26 or the second condensing optical system 29 to be described later.
  • the optical element 25 A is configured of, for example, a dichroic prism having wavelength selectivity.
  • the dichroic prism includes an inclined surface K forming an angle of 45° with respect to the optical axis ax 1 .
  • the inclined surface K also forms an angle of 45° with respect to the optical axis ax 2 .
  • the optical element 25 A is disposed at the point of intersection of the optical axes ax 1 and ax 2 orthogonal to each other.
  • the optical element 25 A is not limited to a prism-shaped one such as a dichroic prism, but a parallel flat plate-like dichroic mirror may be used.
  • the polarization separation element 50 A having wavelength selectivity is provided on the inclined surface K.
  • the polarization separation element 50 A has a polarization separation function to separate the bundle of beams K 1 passing through the first retardation film 15 into an S-polarization component and a P-polarization component with respect to the polarization separation element 50 A.
  • the polarization separation element 50 A reflects the beam BLs of the S-polarization component of the incident light (the bundle of beams K 1 ) while transmitting the beam BLp of the P-polarization component of the incident light.
  • the beam BLs as the S-polarization component is reflected by the polarization separation element 50 A and directed to the fluorescent light-emitting element 27 .
  • the beam BLp as the P-polarization component passes through the polarization separation element 50 A and is directed to the diffuse reflection element 30 .
  • the polarization separation element 50 A has a color separation function to transmit fluorescent light YL, which is different in wavelength band from the bundle of beams K 1 and will be described later, irrespective of the polarization state of the fluorescent light YL.
  • the S-polarized beam BLs emitted from the polarization separation element 50 A is incident on the first condensing optical system 26 .
  • the first condensing optical system 26 condenses the beam BLs onto the phosphor layer 34 of the fluorescent light-emitting element 27 .
  • the first condensing optical system 26 is configured of, for example, pickup lenses 26 a and 26 b.
  • the beam BLs emitted from the first condensing optical system 26 is incident on the fluorescent light-emitting element 27 .
  • the fluorescent light-emitting element 27 includes the phosphor layer 34 , a substrate 35 supporting the phosphor layer 34 , and a fixing member 36 fixing the phosphor layer 34 to the substrate 35 .
  • the phosphor layer 34 is fixed and supported to the substrate 35 by the fixing member 36 provided between the side surface of the phosphor layer 34 and the substrate 35 in a state where a surface of the phosphor layer 34 on the side opposite to the side on which the beam BLs is incident is in contact with the substrate 35 .
  • the phosphor layer 34 contains phosphor particles that absorb the beam BLs, convert the beam BLs into the yellow fluorescent light YL, and emits the yellow fluorescent light YL.
  • phosphor particles that absorb the beam BLs, convert the beam BLs into the yellow fluorescent light YL, and emits the yellow fluorescent light YL.
  • YAG yttrium-aluminum-garnet
  • the forming material of phosphor particles may be of one kind, or a mixture of two or more kinds of particles different in forming material from each other may be used as the phosphor particles.
  • the phosphor layer 34 a material having excellent heat resistance and surface workability is preferably used.
  • a phosphor layer obtained by dispersing the phosphor particles in an inorganic binder such as alumina, or a phosphor layer obtained by sintering the phosphor particles without using a binder can be suitably used.
  • a reflection portion 37 is provided on the side of the phosphor layer 34 opposite to the side on which the beam BLs is incident.
  • the reflection portion 37 has the function of reflecting a partial fluorescent light YL of the fluorescent light YL generated by the phosphor layer 34 . With this configuration, the fluorescent light YL can be extracted efficiently from the phosphor layer 34 to the first condensing optical system 26 side.
  • the reflection portion 37 can be configured by providing a reflection film 37 a on the surface of the phosphor layer 34 on the side opposite to the side on which the beam BLs is incident.
  • a surface of the reflection film 37 a that faces the phosphor layer 34 serves as a reflection surface.
  • the reflection portion 37 may be configured such that the substrate 35 includes a base material having light reflection characteristics.
  • the reflection film 37 a is omitted, and a surface of the substrate 35 that faces the phosphor layer 34 can be a reflection surface.
  • An inorganic adhesive having light reflection characteristics is preferably used for the fixing member 36 .
  • light leaking from the side surface of the phosphor layer 34 can be reflected into the phosphor layer 34 by the inorganic adhesive having light reflection characteristics.
  • light extraction efficiency for the fluorescent light YL generated by the phosphor layer 34 to the first condensing optical system 26 side can be further increased.
  • a heat sink 38 is disposed on a surface of the substrate 35 on the side opposite to the surface thereof supporting the phosphor layer 34 . Since heat can be dissipated through the heat sink 38 in the fluorescent light-emitting element 27 , thermal degradation of the phosphor layer 34 can be prevented.
  • the partial fluorescent light YL of the fluorescent light YL generated by the phosphor layer 34 is reflected by the reflection portion 37 and emitted toward the first condensing optical system 26 . Moreover, another partial fluorescent light YL of the fluorescent light YL generated by the phosphor layer 34 is emitted toward the first condensing optical system 26 without involving the reflection portion 37 .
  • the fluorescent light YL emitted from the phosphor layer 34 passes through the first condensing optical system 26 and the polarization separation element 50 A.
  • the P-polarized beam BLp emitted from the polarization separation element 50 A is incident on the second retardation film 28 .
  • the second retardation film 28 is configured of a 1 ⁇ 4 wave plate ( ⁇ /4 plate) disposed on the optical path between the polarization separation element 50 A and the diffuse reflection element 30 .
  • the beam BLp passes through the second retardation film 28 and is thus converted into circularly polarized beam BLc′.
  • the beam BLc′ passing through the second retardation film 28 is incident on the second condensing optical system 29 .
  • the second condensing optical system 29 condenses the beam BLc′ onto the diffuse reflection element 30 .
  • the second condensing optical system 29 is configured of, for example, a pickup lens 29 a and a pickup lens 29 b.
  • the diffuse reflection element 30 diffusively reflects the beam BLc′ emitted from the second condensing optical system 29 toward the polarization separation element 50 A.
  • a diffuse reflection element that reflects, in a Lambertian manner, the beam BLc′ incident on the diffuse reflection element 30 is preferably used.
  • the diffuse reflection element 30 includes the diffuse reflector 30 A and a driving source 30 M such as a motor for rotating the diffuse reflector 30 A.
  • the axis of rotation of the driving source 30 M is disposed substantially parallel to the optical axis ax 1 .
  • the diffuse reflector 30 A is configured to be rotatable in a plane crossing a main beam of the beam BLc′ incident on the diffuse reflector 30 A.
  • the diffuse reflector 30 A is formed in, for example, a circular shape as viewed in the direction of the axis of rotation.
  • the circularly polarized beam BLc′ reflected by the diffuse reflector 30 A and passing again through the second condensing optical system 29 passes again through the second retardation film 28 and is thus converted into an S-polarized beam BLs′.
  • the beam BLs' (blue light) is combined with the fluorescent light YL by the polarization separation element 50 A, and thus the white light WL is obtained.
  • the white light WL is incident on the uniform illumination system 40 shown in FIG. 2 .
  • the uniform illumination system 40 includes an optical integration system 31 , a polarization conversion element 32 , and a superimposing optical system 33 .
  • the uniform illumination system 40 makes an intensity distribution of the white light WL uniform in a region to be illuminated.
  • the white light WL emitted from the uniform illumination system 40 is incident on the color separation/light guiding system 200 .
  • the optical integration system 31 is configured of, for example, a lens array 31 a and a lens array 31 b .
  • the lens arrays 31 a and 31 b each include a plurality of lenses arranged in an array.
  • the white light WL passing through the optical integration system 31 is incident on the polarization conversion element 32 .
  • the polarization conversion element 32 is configured of, for example, a polarization separation film and a retardation film, and converts the white light WL into linearly polarized light.
  • the polarization conversion element 32 is not essential.
  • the white light WL passing through the polarization conversion element 32 is incident on the superimposing optical system 33 .
  • the superimposing optical system 33 is configured of, for example, a superimposing lens, and superimposes the white light WL emitted from the polarization conversion element 32 onto a region to be illuminated.
  • an illuminance distribution in the region to be illuminated is made uniform by the optical integration system 31 and the superimposing optical system 33 .
  • the light emitted from the array light source 21 is efficiently incident on a predetermined region to be illuminated in the fluorescent light-emitting element 27 and on a predetermined region to be illuminated in the diffuse reflection element 30 , and therefore, light-use efficiency is high. Hence, bright illumination light can be obtained. Hence, in the projector 1 including the illumination device 100 of the embodiment, light-use efficiency is high.
  • the illumination device of the modified example differs from the illumination device 100 of the first embodiment in the configuration of a homogenizer optical system, and configurations of the modified example other than that are common to the first embodiment.
  • the configurations and members common to the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and signs, and the detailed description thereof is omitted.
  • a homogenizer optical system 224 according to the first modified example includes a first multi-lens array 224 a including a plurality of first lenses 224 am , and a second multi-lens array 224 b including a plurality of second lenses 224 bm .
  • FIG. 8 is a diagram of the first multi-lens array 224 a and the second multi-lens array 224 b as viewed in a direction parallel to the optical axis ax 1 . However, a portion of the homogenizer optical system 224 is shown in FIG. 8 .
  • FIG. 8 corresponds to FIG. 7 .
  • the configuration of the first multi-lens array 224 a is different from the first multi-lens array 24 a of the first embodiment.
  • the planar shape of the plurality of first lenses 224 am is a square whose one side is parallel to the Y-direction, and the first lenses 224 am are disposed in a substantially staggered manner.
  • the second multi-lens array 224 b includes four second lens columns LL 2 .
  • Each of the second lens columns LL 2 corresponds to the first lens column LL 1 of the first multi-lens array 224 a .
  • Each of the second lens columns LL 2 includes four second lenses 224 bm .
  • the width H 2 in the first direction (the Y-direction) has a distribution in the second direction (the Z-direction).
  • the planar shape of the plurality of second lenses 224 bm is a trapezoid having an upper base 225 and a lower base 226 .
  • the second multi-lens array 224 b is disposed in a state where the directions of the second lenses 224 bm in the second lens columns LL 2 adjacent to each other are inverted 180 degrees in the Z-direction. That is, two second lenses 224 bm adjacent to each other in the first direction are disposed such that the upper base 225 of one of the second lenses 224 bm and the lower base 226 of the other second lens 224 bm are arranged on a straight line along the Y-direction. With this configuration, the second multi-lens array 224 b has a structure in which the plurality of second lenses 224 bm are closely disposed.
  • one second lens of the plurality of second lenses 224 bm is defined as a second lens 224 bm 1 .
  • One first lens of the plurality of first lenses 224 am that corresponds to the one second lens 224 bm 1 is defined as a first lens 224 am 1 .
  • the first lens 224 am 1 corresponds to “one first lens of the plurality of first lenses that corresponds to the one second lens” in the appended claims.
  • the second lens 224 bm 1 corresponds to “one second lens of the plurality of second lenses” in the appended claims.
  • the maximum width H 2 max of the second lens 224 bm is larger than the width H 1 of the first lens 224 am .
  • the maximum width H 2 max is located at the lower base 226
  • the minimum width H 2 min is located at the upper base 225 .
  • the width H 1 equals (H 2 max +H 2 min )/2.
  • the homogenizer optical system 224 is designed such that if there is no mounting error, the secondary light source image G is formed in the vicinity of the upper base 225 of the second lens 224 bm 1 corresponding to the first lens 224 am 1 and in the central portion of the second lens 224 bm 1 in the first direction.
  • the secondary light source image G is less likely to protrude from the second lens 224 bm 1 .
  • the light from the array light source 21 can be efficiently used.
  • An illumination device includes the homogenizer optical system 24 included in the illumination device 100 of the first embodiment.
  • FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a secondary light source image G 1 formed on the second lens 24 bm .
  • FIG. 9 corresponds to FIG. 7 .
  • the secondary light source image G 1 formed on the second lens 24 bm has a shape (an oblong shape) having a longitudinal direction in the Z-direction.
  • a region where the width of the second lens 24 bm in the Y-direction is larger than the width of the first lens 24 am in the Y-direction is indicated by Reference sign S.
  • a length L 1 of the secondary light source image G 1 in the longitudinal direction (the Z-direction) is shorter than a length L 2 of the region S in the Z-direction.
  • the secondary light source image G 1 is less likely to protrude from the second lens 24 bm compared to the related art, as shown in FIG. 9 .
  • the light from the array light source 21 can be efficiently used.
  • a projector according to a second embodiment will be described. Structures around a projection optical system of the projector according to the second embodiment are substantially similar to those of the projector according to the first embodiment, but the configuration of an illumination device is different therefrom. Hence, in the following description, differences from the first embodiment will be described in detail. Moreover, in the following, the configurations and members common to the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and signs, and the detailed description thereof is omitted.
  • FIG. 10 is a schematic configuration diagram showing the projector of the embodiment.
  • the projector 1 A includes an illumination device 101 R for red light, an illumination device 101 G for green light, an illumination device 101 B for blue light, the light modulators 400 R, 400 G, and 400 B, the field lenses 300 R, 300 G, and 300 B, the cross dichroic prism 500 , and the projection optical system 600 .
  • each of the illumination device 101 R for red light, the illumination device 101 G for green light, and the illumination device 101 B for blue light corresponds to “illumination device” in the appended claims.
  • the projector 1 A roughly operates as follows.
  • the red light LR composed of red laser light emitted from the illumination device 101 R for red light is incident on the light modulator 400 R through the field lens 300 R and thus modulated.
  • the green light LG composed of green laser light emitted from the illumination device 101 G for green light is incident on the light modulator 400 G through the field lens 300 G and thus modulated.
  • the blue light LB composed of blue laser light emitted from the illumination device 101 B for blue light is incident on the light modulator 400 B through the field lens 300 B and thus modulated.
  • the illumination device 101 R for red light, the illumination device 101 G for green light, and the illumination device 101 B for blue light are different only in the color of light to be emitted, and have similar device configurations.
  • a laser light source for red light emits the red light LR composed of laser light having a peak wavelength in a wavelength range of approximately from 585 to 720 nm.
  • a laser light source for green light emits the green light LG composed of laser light having a peak wavelength in a wavelength range of approximately from 495 to 585 nm.
  • a laser light source for blue light emits the blue light LB composed of laser light having a peak wavelength in a wavelength range of approximately from 380 to 495 nm.
  • FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of the illumination device 101 B for blue light.
  • the field lens 300 B and the light modulator 400 B are also shown for convenience of description.
  • the illumination device 101 B for blue light includes an array light source 10 , a collimator optical system 11 , a homogenizer optical system 12 , and a superimposing optical system 13 .
  • a plurality of semiconductor lasers 19 each emitting the blue beam BL are two-dimensionally arranged.
  • the array light source 10 emits the blue light LB composed of the plurality of beams BL.
  • the plurality of semiconductor lasers 19 correspond to “plurality of light-emitting elements” in the appended claims.
  • the collimator optical system 11 is provided on the light exiting-side of the array light source 10 , and the blue light LB emitted from the array light source 10 is incident on the collimator optical system 11 .
  • the collimator optical system 11 includes a plurality of collimator lenses 11 a arranged in an array.
  • the plurality of collimator lenses 11 a are disposed respectively corresponding to the plurality of semiconductor lasers 19 . Based on the configuration described above, the collimator optical system 11 collimates the beams BL.
  • the homogenizer optical system 12 has the same configuration as the homogenizer optical system 24 of the first embodiment. That is, the homogenizer optical system 12 is configured of the first multi-lens array 24 a and the second multi-lens array 24 b . Hence, since a secondary light source image G 2 is less likely to protrude from the second lens 24 bm , the blue light LB can be efficiently used.
  • the superimposing optical system 13 is configured of, for example, a superimposing lens, and superimposes the blue light LB emitted from the array light source 10 onto a region to be illuminated.
  • an illuminance distribution in the region to be illuminated is made uniform by the homogenizer optical system 12 and the superimposing optical system 13 .
  • the blue light LB emitted from the array light source 10 is efficiently incident on the image forming region of the light modulator 400 B, and therefore, high light-use efficiency can be realized.
  • the red light LR and the green light LG are efficiently incident respectively on the image forming region of the light modulator 400 R and the image forming region of the light modulator 400 G, and therefore, high light-use efficiency can be realized.
  • the illumination device 101 R for red light, the illumination device 101 G for green light, and the illumination device 101 B for blue light are included, light-use efficiency is high and thus a bright color image can be projected.
  • the second lens 24 bm having a hexagonal shape and the second lens 224 bm having a trapezoidal shape have been exemplified respectively in the embodiment and the modified example, the invention is not limited to them. It is sufficient that the width of the second lens in the first direction (the Y-direction) has a distribution in the second direction (the Z-direction), and that the maximum width of the second lens is larger than the width H 1 of the first lens.
  • the planar shape of the second lens 24 bm may be, for example, a rhombic shape as shown in FIG. 12 .
  • the second lens 24 bm is disposed such that one diagonal of the rhombus is parallel to the first direction.
  • the width H 2 max in the first direction (the Y-direction) can be increased compared to the case where the planar shape is a hexagon.
  • the projector including the three light modulators 400 R, 400 G, and 400 B has been exemplified; however, the invention can be applied also to a projector that displays a color image with one light modulator. Moreover, a digital mirror device may be used as a light modulator.
  • the illumination device according to the invention can be applied also to a luminaire such as an automobile headlight.

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US11762268B2 (en) * 2021-03-22 2023-09-19 Seiko Epson Corporation Light source apparatus and projector

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CN108227358A (zh) 2018-06-29
JP2018097131A (ja) 2018-06-21
US20180166849A1 (en) 2018-06-14
JP6880694B2 (ja) 2021-06-02

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